MOONLIGHT ROMANTICA
Big 4-5 inch flowers with a medium smoky fruity fragrance. Cupped and quartered flower form, better than JAYNE AUSTIN, coloring is more beautiful than advertised. Good petal substance & large beautiful shiny leaves... looks like a winner!
Comments (30)
Michael H 6b NY
6 years agoromogen
6 years agoRelated Discussions
First bloom on Moonlight Romantica plus a few
Comments (19)Jo, I adore Annie’s! I wish I could shop there in person, instead of mail order, but maybe it’s a good thing I can’t. I have loads to plant, more than the energy to do so. I don’t know what I was thinking. It sounds so easy to plop them in, but I always run into some delay. There are roots, someone is coming to install the drip system, I don’t have enough compost, or I’m struck with fatigue for a week a week or two straight. All I can do then, is water them and wait for it to pass. There’s too much lag time. I order when I’m feeling well, and by the time they arrive, I might not be. I’ll never learn, but I do like having my own little nursery to shop from, when I’m up to planting things. It’s needing to use gopher cages that adds so much work to everything. The white flowers with the sweet peas are the wild Petunia axillaris. I bought one from Annie’s years ago, and it has seeded around. It smells wonderful at night. The ones in full sun will soon suffer, so I usually pull them out when the sweet peas are spent. The ones that have sown themselves in shade look nice all summer. It’s perennial here, but since it self sows, I pull some and leave some. It doesn’t mound like a regular Petunia. Petunia axillaris will climb and weave 3-4 feet. It’s not a major pain reseeder, just a few here and there. I’ve only had it for 3-4 years, though. I’m beginning to learn that what I think is a “polite” reseeding plant the first year or two, can become much more aggressive when there are more of them flinging their seeds about. I thinking about that Cerinthe, right now. I’m not always good about removing the extras. Mr. Moses, thank you! Cafe Olé is doing well, and I have a pair of buds on one of the Little Gray Pearls, as well. I know I should pinch them of, but I’d like to see them first. I haven’t ordered the ornamental oregano, because a local nursery has promised they would have it in soon. It might have been better to order it though, I am such a homebody that I seldom leave. It’s far more economical to buy it locally. The containers look rather naked without any companion plants. I did toss a few seeds from a geranium, ‘Bill Wallis’ in with Cafe Olé, and I see a plant coming up. I’m excited to hear that you’re about to start warming up! It is funny that the minis are so hardy! I wasn’t aware of that. Of course, I never even look at winter hardiness when selecting plants, only heat tolerance. It’s a whole different ballgame, isn’t it? I still wish there was someone who would come take some pictures of your roses and post them for you. You’ve always been such a wonderful help, not just to me, but to many. I’ll bet your roses are lovely. You are wonderful with words, though and we can almost see them from your descriptions. Lisa...See MoreMichelangelo vs. Moonlight Romantica for fragrance?
Comments (3)Sara Ann, all the Romantica roses that I have tried have been super in my garden, too. I like them all, except for Sweet Mademoiselle, who is usually just way too bright for my taste. She’s a great bloomer, grower, long lasting cut flower, and smells wonderful though. I have never grown Michelangelo, so while I can’t compare the two, I can tell you about Moonlight Romantica. Moonlight Romantica is doing great for me, almost too great, size wise. Lol. Moonlight Romantica is a climber for me, and my son planted it far too close to Sweet Mademoiselle. I’m still hoping to have Sweet Mademoiselle removed, and that will give Moonlight Romantica more space. Although I don’t recall what Moonlight Romantica smells like, I know it has good, strong fragrance. I noticed that I made a note of Moonlight Romantica’s wonderful fragrance. I don’t get as much fragrance from my roses as others in more humid climates do. The dryness here makes it difficult for me to detect fragrance unless it’s quite strong, and I do get good fragrance from my MR. MR blooms a lot, even in the heat. The blooms do fade, but not overly quick. Mine would bloom more if I tied it sideways to the trellises, but because it’s too close to Sweet Mademoiselle, I haven’t done that yet. She makes clusters of big fragrant blooms, and is very vigorous for me. I have a few pictures saved of MR’s blooms. It’s not blooming at the moment, but just finished up a flush. I think you’d like it! Moonlight Romantica grows very tall for me and should be grown as a climber. I’m not sure how large it would get in a colder zone. Hope that helps a little, even though I’m in a completely different zone. Lisa...See MoreMoonlight Rom., Karl Ploberger, Crazy Love, Tupelo Honey, Easy does it
Comments (6)The only one I can really say anything about is 'Tupelo Honey', own root, in it's first full year. I'm in north MO, about 20 minutes from 5a. I get a little fragrance from it, others say they can smell it better. Oh, I've got blooms on it today but I'm at work, drat! Mine is in full sun, and the soil here tends to be clay. It's pretty easy to dig in that bed though - I had an old forsynthia taken out, and I think that bed is slightly more loamy than the rest of the yard. I'm really happy with this rose so far - very clean foliage, good vigor, plenty of flowers that I didn't cut many of (ruined by those *^%&# Japanese Beetles). I think it came through last winter quite well; it was new in the ground last year, but I don't remember having to do more than take off a few tips. I can't really comment on vase life - most of those I cut were given away or taken into work. I got at least 4 days out of those taken to work (if my memory is right!) BUT - this rose, for me at least, wants to bloom more in clusters than single flowers. It does have a flatter flower than a typical HT bloom. I haven't quite had the heart to sacrifice buds, so most of my cut ones had shorter stems. I have 'Violet's Pride' too; went in the ground the same time as 'Tupelo Honey', but it's in a more shaded spot, with heavier soil (noticably more clay). I've only gotten a couple blooms from it, and I remember it needing more pruning in the spring. I got it in the spring as a band, planted out in the fall. 'Tupelo Honey' came as a gallon, so that could explain some things. 'Tupelo Honey', as a first full year 1-gallon plant, definitely gets my vote!...See Moresoft yellow rose recommendation
Comments (22)I have Golden Celebration and Lemon Spice in zone 9b S. California at 2000ft. I am inland about 30 miles, but can see the ocean from my balcony if the Santa Ana winds blow the smog out to sea, so it’s basically a straight shot for the nighttime marine layer to come in. This moist cool air in a climate with no rain is what powdery mildew loves the most. The PM pressure here is very high. Golden Celebration has perfect healthy foliage on a nice rounded shrub with leaves to the ground, but tends to only have a Spring and Fall flush. Lemon Spice blooms pretty much year round, but gets just a touch of powdery mildew. Lemon Spice has the exact same growth habit as Mr. Lincoln with tall straight upright growth and bare naked legs that are very low thorn. Both LS and GC have a divine and strong fragrance. Lemon spice smells like cloves and cinnamon. GC smells like lemon and myrrh with a little old rose thrown in. Both roses have thinner petals that wilt in triple digit heat....See More
flowersaremusic z5 Eastern WA
6 years ago
Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca
6 years ago
Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
6 years agoromogen
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago@flowers this one is purportedly a climber like EDEN. I hope it has better rebloom, but I can imagine EDEN & MOONLIGHT lending a romantic air to garden structures.
@Lily it’s pleasing if you like fruity fragrances. For example, I feel neutral towards the fragrance of JUDE THE OBSCURE. I don’t seek it out, but am glad it has a fragrance versus none. On the other hand, any rose with a heady damask, lemon, myrrh, or floral scent I go out of my way to sniff and as often as possible.
@Kristine thanks, I totally feel like I scored! However, FRIDA KAHLO looks like a disappointment. I adore Kahlo the artist — what a shame to waste a good name on a mediocre rose. I didn’t take any pictures of it, but the muddy colors aged badly like FOURTH OF JULY or TROPICAL LIGHTNING.
I wish I had thought to photograph EASY ON THE EYES & EASY TO PLEASE. They are both beautiful floribundas that make a colorful display. ETP has nice cupped flowers and the purple eye of EOTE is remarkable.Kristine LeGault 8a pnw
6 years agoromogen
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoUpdate: today the flowers have a distinctly strong Tea rose fragrance in the early morning, and the petals have opened up some more. Did I mention they are held proudly upright?
Michael H 6b NY
6 years ago
Rosylady (PNW zone 8)
6 years agoac91z6
6 years ago
suncoastflowers
6 years ago
Dingo2001 - Z5 Chicagoland
6 years ago
Ann-SoCalZ10b SunStZ22
2 years agorosesmi5a
2 years agoerasmus_gw
2 years agoMoses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
2 years ago
Lisa Adams
2 years agoAnn-SoCalZ10b SunStZ22
2 years ago
Nick 10bSW17
2 years agoThe first blooms of my own root second year MR from this past weekend. I prune hard as I’m short on space, it’s in the 3.5’ tall range- I expect it would grow taller if I let it. I get a strong fruity/peppery tea fragrance, I can imagine how that translates to tobacco. I’m in SF and can’t speak to how it does in heat, I’ve mostly been in the low 60s to a few days of low 70s the past month. From what I remember last year about repeat, it’s average- but it’s still a baby.
Ann-SoCalZ10b SunStZ22
2 years agoAnn-SoCalZ10b SunStZ22
2 years agoKristine LeGault 8a pnw
2 years ago
Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
Tess P
2 years ago
mmmm12COzone5
2 years agoflowersaremusic z5 Eastern WA
2 years agoKristine LeGault 8a pnw
2 years ago
strawchicago z5
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoBush-shot of Moonlight Romantica after 1 month of purchase as own-root from Roses Unlimited. Very vigorous growth, plus 100% healthy leaves despite being planted right next to the rain-spout. It likes soaking wet, since it has the same parents as Sweet M (Christopher columbus and Graham Thomas). It's in 4 hrs. of morning sun. Might fry in full sun since the parent is Graham Thomas.
Moonlight romantica bloom is large, lasts 4 days in the vase. Upper right is Aloha. Reds are Rouge Royal. Middle pink is Savannah. blush white is Bolero. Blue is Poseidon. The scent of Moonlight Romantica IS WAY BETTER THAN BOLERO. Pic. taken Sept. 19 in hot temp near 90 F:
Below bou to compare Moonlight Romantica (upper yellow) with Golden Fairy tale (below). Golden Fairy tales have lighter scent, but the scent becomes peppermint candy if aged in the vase. Moonlight Romantica has a sweet scent like Golden Cel, but much healthier & prettier bush than Golden Cel (throws octopus canes with blackspots).I put 1/4 bag of gypsum (10 lb.) in breaking up my dense clay for Moonlight Romantica .. even more for Sweet M, both are calcium-hog like PcDM. Calcium gives more petals & lasts longer in the vase & helps with heat-tolerance.
Lisa Adams